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Hey guys! I just wanted your take on a dilemma that I am facing.
I have a 1998 GS400 and I have had for about 15 years. It has gone from my garage beauty to daily driver. It currently has 180k miles on it.
I have been told that the ABS Master cylinder is bad and may need to be replaced
Car makes weird noises when it brakes. But this one should be minor compared to Master Cylinder above
Have replaced rack & pinion and both lower front control arms
Major service needs to be done within the next year (coming up on Timing belt again)
Anyway, I brought it to my Lexus dealership because I am currently looking for a new RC or GS. I could buy an RC350 (or GS350) or lease a GS-F (or RC-F). I am undecided at this point. As I have gotten older, I have questioned whether or not it is really practical to pour $80k into an asset that will depreciate by over 90% in 15 years (which is true for cars, with few exemptions). Even with that said, I am still undecided.
BUT the dealer will only offer me $1000 for my GS At this point, should I keep it as a (higher maintanence) daily driver? Or do you think it is time to part ways?
Like many of us, I have always thought about modding it, and have thought about it throughout my entire time of owning this car. The lure of the new cars might be too much for me to resist. Still think this is the best looking Lexus ever made
Is the car even worth keeping if I get a new one? Or will it just become an unnessisary drag on my expenditures?
Not sure I can offer advice, but I find myself in an almost identical boat - had the '01 GS430 for 13 years, it has 160K, looks like new, drives well.. but I find myself looking at the cars around me and wondering if it's time to switch.
I don't care for the looks of the new GS grilles (or the entire Lexus line for that matter). I was pretty seriously looking at the S8's (a couple of years old), but just like you, I am not sure I want to sink $60 into something that'll just depreciate.
So I'm indecisive and as such am still driving the GS . I do think it's a great looking car, so it's not like I'm settling - but I am still wondering if it's time to switch, just not sure to what. I'll be curious to see what you decide.
Your GS, like mine (a GS300 in the UK) is only worth $ 1,000 but I would not take the money.
I'll tell you why. I also have the latest GS which has all the toys and undisputed Lexus reliability. The Series 2 gives a driving pleasure which is unmatched by later variants. Take a long test drive in the new one then get back in yours. You'll see what I mean.
Looking at your pic, it looks fairly rust-free. Keep it, spend only what you have to and you'll feel good about saving the money.
Out of interest, my car's on its original shock absorbers (dampers) and exhaust. Is yours?
Keep it.
My 98 gs400 has 290k. Even if i average $300 a year in repairs, it's still a nice ride +paid for. My wife has a brand new BMW and when I see her monthly car note, I say yea it's nice but not that nice (lol).
trade. never hold on to something when you can upgrade. but you mind as well keep the gs while still buying or leasing a new car. that makes the most sense. Most of these GS owners will tell you to not upgrade but thats biased comments. i have a GS now as well and ill tell you i would dump it for any of the cars you listed in a heart beat if needed.
Do what I did, I wanted a newer car but love my '99 GS400 with 225k. It is my daily driver and I will keep this car forever. It's been very reliable and if anything goes wrong it's at the dealer the next day. Maintenance is not as bad as you think, maybe $1k per year. However, back to your question. I bought a '02 SC430 with 104k as a weekend driver (and to give me the feel of a "newer" vehicle since my GS is getting up in age). Love it! Only cost me $12k and since you don't see many of this style (they quit making them in 2010) it's really a head turner. Oh, and the hard top convertible is awesome!!! Drove it to the beach and it was like being a celebrity lol. Anyway, it's your choice but like you said, I can't see myself paying $60-70-80k for a car that goes down in value. Houses used to be that much when I was younger! lol.
Major service needs to be done within the next year (coming up on Timing belt again)
I did my TB/WP at 120k and 220k, hopefully that will last a while. In between I did my radiator and motor mounts. I wanted to get those items out of the way as those are the big ticket items. Keep an eye on your power steering fluid level and I think you'll be good for a while. I've literally had no problems out of mine. I think a while ago the dealer offered me $3k for mine and I said no way....I will just keep it. It's worth much more to me than that.
All that being said, I do like the new LC500. There is a possibility I might look for a low mileage one in 4 years (it should drop in value enough for me to consider it by then). At that point I may give the SC430 to my niece as a college graduation gift lol.
My advice is to buy a 2001 to 2005 GS430 with lower miles than yours, the exact interior/exterior color you want, install aftermarket stereo and backup camera. If you really want a newer car instead, rent it for a week to make sure first, for example on turo.com . Another option is a Tesla Model S or Model 3, which can be configured to be faster than our 2GS.
Should I trade her in or keep her?
At this point, should I keep it as a (higher maintanence) daily driver? Or do you think it is time to part ways? 
. I do think it's a great looking car, so it's not like I'm settling - but I am still wondering if it's time to switch, just not sure to what. I'll be curious to see what you decide.
